The Slow Fast

Well...

Over the next 40 days, Bluer has been called to fast in one of various ways. I've had time to consider the options and have been on my journey for almost 36 hours so far. I have been asked, because I keep a blog, to write about this experience until Thanksgiving. Who knows what you'll hear out of my mouth between then and now? I hope it is useful for you. Yesterday I really wanted a gyro... and some onion rings. Thankfully, I kept my composure.

I have been learning much, even in this short time about seeing God's presence incease in my everyday life. I have always been of the mind that love is the only way to treat each other. But, the first commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Then to love others as yourself. If you surround yourself with "believers" who refuse to submit to God's word and make up rules only to make themselves feel good, we endanger our own standing with God. 1 Corinthians 5:5-6 says, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" In verse 11 Paul continues: "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with an one do not eat". It is better not to surround ourselves with Christians that live like this. Their beliefs will rub off on you. They can never give you what you need. Unbelievers are expected to act in all manner of ways, as they do not hold the same beliefs. That is why it is easier to spend time with them. Once we surround ourselves with those that will feed our lives positively, we will be less likely to adopt heretical beliefs and selfish habits.

Once we get ourselves straight, we must get into the rhythm of God. This is done through prayer and fasting as a part of our lifestyle. Psalm 130:5-6 says, "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word I do hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning..." In II Samuel 6 David is bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. He waits for two years, watching the Lord bless someone else, and he couldn't wait for the Spirit of God to be on him in Jerusalem. He was acting crazy in his anticipation. Yet, we treat it as no big deal that God's presence is with us daily. We give it little special thought. We must wait on him expectantly, eagerly. To really feel and see things happen in our lives, we need to live in the Spirit.

This is time consuming. Today we love the easy way. Whatever brings instant comfort is instantly welcomed. God would rather take the more difficult road. In Romans 5:2-5, "Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverence; and perseverence character; and character hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Once I can bend the will of my body to the will of the spirit, I will have persevered, which will allow me to become more the man I want to be, and result in hope for the purpose of my life. According to the above, he will not disappoint if I do my part. By giving in to doubt, negativity, comfort, and hopelessness, it makes one unwilling to push onward.

Don't give up on hope. There's so little of it in this world, that we must hold on with all we have. Dispair is but one event away from consuming us. Hope is what keeps us from desolation. It contains all our dreams, positive thoughts, ambitions, our future, and our life. Without hope, we die. I hope this encourages you to be still, fast, pray, and eagerly expect God to give you faith to persevere. Sorry for the length. I'll try to keep this updated during this period.